Search
Borrow
Help
Information for
Information about
Newspapers
- Does the Library hold newspapers?
- How do I find specific newspapers?
- How do I find articles on a topic?
- Where else can I access newspapers?
- See also Historical Newspapers guide
- See also News services and media releases links
- Need help?
- List of main newspaper holdings:
Does the Library hold newspapers?
The Library has a wide range of Australian and international newspapers (in online, hard copy (print) and/or microfilm format).
The Newspaper Collection is located in the Media room near the Research Help Desk (Ground level). To view the papers held in microfilm format use the microfilm reader/printers.
What about really old newspapers?
Yes. See the Historical Newspapers guide.
How do I find specific newspapers?
Search the Library Catalogue
Search the Library Catalogue using a Journal Title search on the name of the newspaper. eg. Sydney Morning Herald.
If it is held the Catalogue will show:
- for online newspapers - which database to access and the date range available
- for hard copy/microfilm newspapers - the format, location and call number, and the date range available
Tip: Looking for a specific overseas newspaper? In addition to the titles on the Library Catalogue, many more titles are available through the Factiva and Proquest databases (see below). Check the Browse Journals A-Z list via the Library Catalogue.
How do I find newspaper articles on a topic?
Search library databases
Try these newspaper databases first
| Database | Notes | Truncation symbol | Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factiva | Fulltext Australian and international newspapers (graphics not included). Coverage dates vary for each paper. Most Australian papers are 1980s+ or 1990s+ | * | Factiva search tips |
| Proquest ANZ Newsstand | Fulltext Australian and New Zealand newspapers (graphics not included). Coverage dates vary for each paper. Some Australian papers are 1996+, others are 2001+ | * | Proquest search tips |
| SMH Digital Archive | Fulltext and graphics of the Sydney Morning Herald backfile 1955-1990 | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Times Digital Archive | Fulltext and graphics of The Times (London) backfile 1785-1985. Subject coverage includes international affairs. | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Illawarra Index (Articles Database) |
Indexes articles about the Illawarra region from the Illawarra Mercury and other local newspapers 1840s+ | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Proquest Newspapers | Fulltext international newspapers (graphics not included). Coverage dates vary for each paper | * | Proquest search tips |
Other newspaper related databases
| Database | Notes | Truncation symbol | Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| APAFT | Indexes selected feature articles from major Australian capital city newspapers 1978+. Coverage dates vary for each paper | * | Informit search tips |
| Austlit | Indexes book reviews and literary articles in major Australian newspapers. Coverage dates vary for each paper | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Expanded Academic ASAP | Indexes articles from selected major overseas newspapers. Some fulltext. Coverage dates vary for each paper | * | GaleInfoTrac search tips |
| Infokoori (Australian Indigenous Index) |
Indexes articles from the Koori Mail newspaper 1991+ as well as earlier articles on indigenous affairs from other NSW newspapers | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Infoquick | Indexes articles from the Sydney Morning Herald and its related newspapers 1988-2005 | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Media Scan | Indexes feature articles and opinion sections from major daily Australian newspapers 1991+. Coverage dates vary for each paper | * | Informit search tips |
Note that in the above lists there are three different database formats:
- Fulltext and graphics (digital archive) databases provide scanned reproductions of the original newspaper pages
- Fulltext databases provide the complete text of newspaper articles (but not the graphics)
- Index only databases provide citations (references) to newspaper articles. You can use these to locate dates and page numbers for specific articles, then check if the relevant newspapers are held in the Library.
For more indexes to older newspapers see the list on the Historical Newspapers guide.
Found a useful reference in a database but it's not fulltext?
Some databases do not provide the fulltext of the article. To locate these articles you will need to search the Library Catalogue to determine if the Library holds that newspaper title either in print or electronically on another database.
Where else can I access newspapers?
Can't access the UOW Library?
Try other libraries
Within the Illawarra
Search the catalogue of Wollongong City Library. It holds a range of Australian newspapers, including several local and state newspapers not held by the UOW Library, and also has newspaper databases (with free remote access for members).
Outside the Illawarra
Search the catalogues of other libraries. For example, both the State Library of New South Wales and the National Library of Australia hold large collections of Australian and overseas newspapers and give members free remote access to newspaper databases.
Try newspaper web sites
Browse or search news archives available on newspaper publishers' own web sites. Note: These sites are not quota exempt (unlike the Library databases) and so will use student internet quota.
Directories for locating specific newspapers:
- Australian Newspapers Online - links to local, state and national newspaper sites (including Illawarra community newspapers)
- ABYZ newslinks - links to newspaper sites worldwide
- Onlinenewspapers.com - links to newspaper sites worldwide
Examples of Australian news publishers' archives:
- Fairfax News Store Archive - search Illawarra Mercury, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and other Fairfax publications. Date coverage varies
- Newstext.com.au Archive - search The Australian, Daily Telegraph and other News Corporation publications. Date coverage varies
Tip: Recent articles are usually free. Access to the fulltext of older articles is often available for a fee. Alternatively, just locate dates for specific articles, then check the Library Catalogue to see if the relevant newspapers are available in the Library.
Another source of news online are news services and media releases.
List of main newspaper holdings
Listed below are holdings and indexing details for the main local, state and national Australian newspapers which the UOW Library subscribes to in hard copy and/or online format.
Note: Hard copy and microfilm copies of newspapers are in the Newspaper Collection tubs and cabinets located in the Media room near the Research Help Desk (Ground level). These items have an N location prefix.
| The Age (Melbourne) (includes The Age Magazine) |
|---|
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| The Australian (includes The Australian Magazine) |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Australian Financial Review (includes The AFR Magazine) |
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Canberra Times |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Illawarra Mercury |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Koori Mail |
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| National Indigenous Times |
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Sun Herald (Sydney) |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Sydney Morning Herald (includes The Good Weekend Magazine) |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
* For details of how to access print indexes refer to the Historical Newspapers guide.
Need help?
Contact Research Help staff.

Interruptions to UOW IT services (on & off campus)
Maintenance to UOW IT services is planned for Saturday 21 November, 6am – 6pm. On-campus, internet access to websites outside UOW, and access to UOW webpages from off-campus will be affected. More details...

